Tuesday, 1 January 2013

20 Best Albums of 2012: #9

9. Grizzly Bear, ShieldsShieldsis a record perfect for the period of time
between autumn and winter when the barrier between warmth and cold begins to be defined. The songs on the album embrace the listener even as their lyrics
speak of distances and isolation. Despite the band's avowed efforts to make the
album ‘less dreamy’ than previous releases, Shields
is never truly dissonant in mood or tone. This doesn’t make Shields any less satisfying: it’s a beautifully shaded work that reveals the complexity of its melodies and structures over
time.